In a whirlwind of whispers and flashing cameras, Jessika Power, the fiery former bride from *Married at First Sight* (MAFS), has slammed the brakes on swirling romance rumors linking her to *Love Island Australia*’s controversial hunk, Cooper Benson. The pair’s innocent snapshot at Brisbane’s steamy adult entertainment expo, SXhibition, sparked a media frenzy—but Jessika isn’t having any of it.
Taking to Instagram with her signature no-nonsense flair, Jessika vented her frustration at having to squash the gossip so early in the week. “Oh my God, not me having to address rumors and articles like, what is it, 9:38 a.m. on a fricking Monday, after already having a pretty rough day,” she shared with her fans. The photo in question? Just a casual pose on the event’s media wall, no different from the dozens she snapped with other attendees—men, women, and everyone in between.
“There are some articles going around saying, ’cause there was a young man from *Love Island*, he’s uploaded a picture of he and I. We literally just took a picture on the media wall like everyone else did,” Jessika explained, rolling her eyes at the absurdity. She was quick to set the record straight: “Now apparently we’re somehow dating. I thought I left this dating rumor thing back years ago. He was just a really nice guy. I really enjoyed meeting him.”
Diving deeper, Jessika emphasized the platonic vibe. “You guys only saw a little bit of him on television. No, there is nothing going on there. He is just someone that was there. We took a picture together. That is all it is.” Case closed—or so she hopes.
The backdrop to this drama? SXhibition, Australia’s premier adult entertainment and lifestyle extravaganza, held from November 28 to 30. Billed as a celebration of empowerment, self-expression, and unapologetic pleasure, the event drew crowds eager to embrace the bold and the beautiful. But Cooper’s appearance there turned heads for more reasons than one.
Just under two months prior, the *Love Island* star found himself in hot water, facing Southport Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a chaotic brawl at a Gold Coast karaoke bar back in March. Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault, and driving without a prescribed interlock, Cooper admitted to letting his fists fly in a drunken melee.
Court details painted a vivid picture: It all kicked off when a man laid a hand on his co-accused’s shoulder. CCTV footage captured Cooper shoving a 29-year-old victim before unleashing a barrage of punches, sending him crashing into a karaoke screen. As tensions boiled over, he struck a second man, leaving one victim with a broken tooth and severe facial injuries. Bar patrons eventually stepped in, hauling Cooper out to cool down.
Less than two months ago, he appeared before Southport Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to assaulting two men during a drunken brawl at a Gold Coast karaoke bar in March
Evading authorities at first, police finally nabbed him in early May during a routine stop of his sleek black Mercedes. In the end, he walked away with a 15-month probation order—no conviction recorded—plus orders to compensate both victims. He also copped a fine for the driving offense and a three-month ban from the road.
Post-sentencing, Cooper released a heartfelt statement, owning up to his mistakes and revealing a shocking oversight: He hadn’t disclosed the incident to *Love Island* producers or Channel Nine before filming. “I am extremely remorseful and regretful for the incident that occurred at the start of the year,” he said. “I want to make it clear that I did not tell anyone on the *Love Island* production team or Channel Nine that this incident had occurred before my involvement in the show and I apologize to them for not doing so.”
He added, “By way of explanation, I was defending my friend but I accept I went too far. The judge agreed it was provoked and no criminal conviction has been recorded. Despite this, again, I am deeply remorseful for my actions.”
Interestingly, Cooper’s original show bio touted him as a “handy boxer” with a fiery edge—a line that’s since been scrubbed from the records, perhaps to tone down his “bad boy” image.
From courtroom drama to expo snapshots, this tale of crossed paths and cleared air proves that not every handshake hides a hidden romance. Jessika and Cooper? Just two stars crossing orbits in the wild world of reality TV—nothing more, nothing less.